Unlike other plants with rare but short-lived true blue flowers, the bracts of honeywort hold their color for weeks. The foliage of this Mediterranean native is also unusual. Most plants in the borage family have exceptionally hairy foliage, whereas honeyworts only have stray hair here and there. The leaves are thick and waxy in an attractive gray-green color. Honeywort is hardy in Zones 7-10.
Because honeywort is mainly seed-grown, there's quite a bit of variability in flower color. Most honeywort blossoms are purple to blue, but you may come across cream-colored and even yellow varieties.,
Honeywort Overview
Where to Plant Honeywort
For the most vibrant-colored honeywort, full sun is best but the plants tolerate light shade. They prefer rich, well-drained soil but aren't fussy. Honeywort looks good in borders where the gray-green foliage provides a pretty backdrop for other flowering groundcovers with vibrant colors.
How and When to Plant Honeywort
Honeywort is usually available as seeds and less commonly as potted plants. Start the seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last average frost date in your area or direct sow the seeds after the last frost. Cover the seeds with 1/4 inch of soil and keep the soil moist but not saturated. At a temperature between 65°F and 75°F, the seeds germinate within 5 to 21 days.
After the last frost, transplant the seedlings outdoors 12 to 18 inches apart.
Honeywort Care Tips
Light
In full sun for at least 5 to 6 hours a day, honeywort produces the most intense blue-colored bracts. In too much shade, the plant tends to become leggy.
Soil and Water
Honeywort tolerates various soil conditions, making it an easy-to-grow plant. Ideally, it prefers soil rich in humus and organic matter with a slightly acidic to neutral soil (pH 5.8 to 7.1). The soil should retain a decent amount of moisture while also being well-drained to prevent potential rot problems.
Once established, honeywort withstands the occasional drought, but supplemental watering is beneficial.
Temperature and Humidity
The optimal temperature for honeywort is between 65ºF and 75º but will do fine in temperatures above and below. However, it won't survive frost. The plant grows best in moderate humidity.
Fertilizer
Fertilize container-grown honeywort once a month with a liquid all-purpose fertilizer according to product label instructions. In the garden, fertilizer isn't necessary; instead, amend the soil with compost when planting.
Pruning
Honeywort doesn't need pruning. For a neater appearance, just remove yellowing or dead leaves.
Potting and Repotting Honeywort
Honeywort grows well in pots. Choose one with adequate drainage to prevent root rot. When growing honeywort in containers, use a general-purpose potting mix; the plant will need regular watering when grown in a pot, especially during warm summer weather.
As honewort is an annual, repotting isn't necessary.
Pests and Problems
Other than the common garden pests, such as aphids, slugs, and snails, honeywort doesn't have any serious problems.
How to Propagate Honeywort
Honeywort is propagated from seeds as described above under How and When to Plant Honeywort.
Types of Honeywort
'Kiwi Blue' Honeywort
Kiwi Blue (Cerinthe major subsp. purpurascens "Kiwi Blue") has bluer bracts than other varieties. The foliage is silvery-blue.
'Purple Belle' Honeywort
One of the most popular varieties, C. major subsp. purpurascens 'Purple Belle' grows magenta bell-shaped bracts over blue-gray leaves. It self-seeds readily.
'Pride of Gibraltar' Honeywort
Nodding clusters of blue bracts on graceful gray-green stems make unique additions to cut flower bouquets. The seeds of Pride of Gibralter (C. major 'Pride of Gibralter) are quite large and are thus planted deeper than the species, about 3/4 inch deep.
Honeywort Companion Plants
Angelonia
Angelonia is also called summer snapdragon. It has salvia-like flower spires that reach 1 or 2 feet high, and the plants are studded with snapdragon-like flowers with colorations in purple, white, or pink. It's the perfect choice for adding bright color to hot, sunny spaces. Keep an eye out for the sweetly scented selections. While most gardeners treat angelonia as an annual, it is a tough perennial in warmer climates. Or, if you have a bright, sunny spot indoors, you can even keep it flowering all winter. Zones 9-10
Coral Bells
Previously enjoyed mainly for their spires of dainty reddish flowers, coral bells are now grown as much for the unusual mottling and veining of different-color leaves. The low clumps of long-stemmed evergreen or semi-evergreen lobed foliage make coralbells good groundcover plants. Zones 3-9
Lamb's Ear
Lamb's-ear is a top pick for a groundcover in a hot, baked spot. Its silver-felted foliage quickly forms a dense mat. It also contrasts nicely with other foliage and most flowers. However, depending on the type and your growing conditions, it may self-sow freely to the point of becoming a bother. In hot, humid climates, lamb's ears may "melt down" in summer, becoming brown and limp. Zones 4-9
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does honeywort attract wildlife?Honeywort attracts pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers. It is deer-resistant.
Honeywort attracts pollinators with its nectar-rich flowers. It is deer-resistant.
- Why does my honeywort have white spots?These white spots are natural and nothing to worry about. As the plant grows and matures, the white mottling fades.
These white spots are natural and nothing to worry about. As the plant grows and matures, the white mottling fades.